Zither.



No; 755,572. v PATENTED MAR. 22,1904.

' R. GUMZ.

ZITHER.

I APPLIUATION FILED JULY 17. 1900. no 1012111 2 sums-sum 1.

II Ii" II; 11m" & Y 4

Wiinesses: 1 flzrmiar:

WwWM v w w r Jym' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

Jim 4|! 1 II III! A ilarlzey life. 755,572.

- UNITED I STATES Patented March 22, 1904.

RICHARD GUMZ, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

ZITHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 755,572, dated March22, 1904.

Application filed July 1'7, 1900.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD GUMZ, clerk, a citizen of the Kingdom ofPrussia, and a resident of Berlin, Germany, (whose post-office addressis Leipzigerstrasse 7 9,) have in vented certain new and usefulImprovements in Zithers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is a zither-like instrument which isplayed by means of keys, the depression of which actuates plectra, theseplectra picking the strings. The plectra are arranged in a movablesledge, and each of them may act at will on one out of a plurality ofstrings correspondingto the position of the sledge. By augmenting thenumber of strings which may be acted upon by the depression of each keyand simultaneous shifting of the sledge containing the plectra thevariety of the harmonies may be con siderably augmented.

In the accompanying drawings the instrument is represented in twodifferent modifications. I

Figure 1 shows the simplest form in plan view with the cover removed.Fig. 2 is a front view of the same, some parts being shown in a cutthrough line A A of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through partof the instrument on line- B B of Fig. 1, the prism omitted. Fig. 4 is avertical section on the plane of line C G of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a cutthrough line B B of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a top view of an instrumentconstructed on the same principle as the other, but allowing a greatervariety in the harmonies.

A zither-like sounding-board a is strung with a certain number ofstrings Z), according to the construction of the mechanism operating thepickers, the movement of which is produced by pressing down the keys d,o, and f. 6 represents levers having at their fore ends finger buttonsor keys d. They serve for playing the melody-strings, while 1: producesthe fundamental note of the accord and f the corresponding triad.

The key (1 is fastened to the end of a twoarmed lever e, the other endof which is located below the front end of a single-armed lever g,pivoting on pin a A prism h is able to Serial No. 23,972. (No model.)

freely rotate around pins located in the front and back walls of thesledge and parallel to swinging from the left to the right pulls the 1string by aid of the finger Z. The keys having been released, thespring-governed lever e returns to its initial position, and theplectrum follows this movement. To prevent the picker on its return wayfrom picking the string, its finger Z is fastened to the holder 2' insuch awayas to yield on the return move ment.

The keys '0 and f, serving for playing the fundamental bass and thecorresponding triad, respectively, show a somewhat differentarrangement, the prisms it here having short upright arms w, which areconnected by rods with similar arms of another prism m, pivoting roundaxial pins. By pressing the keys cor f an oscillating motion is impartedto the prism m by aid of the above-mentioned connection. i

The entire mechanism hereinbefore described is mounted on a sledge n andmay be shifted with the latter over a limited space in which all stringsare arranged which each plectrum is to act upon.

The melody-strings are arranged in such a manner that the depression ofthe melodykeys produces, when the sledge is shifted to the right, C, E,G, C, (if, for example, the instrument is stringed, as shown in Fig. 1,in C-major.) The other tones of the diatonic scale are obtained byshifting the plectra in the other position.

The displacement of the sledge n is eflected by pulling the handle 0with the middle and ring fingers of the left hand, a spring bringing thesledge on releasing it back to its original position to the extremeright.

To avoid moving the right hand whenever vers e, on which bear the endsof the levers g, are broad enough toremain in contact with the latter inany position of the sledge. A similar sliding connection is provided forthe keys '0 and f.

Fi g. 6 of the accompanying drawings shows a modified form of thepresent invention, which differs by the mechanism for actuating thepickers and by a greater number of strings acted upon by one plectrum.The prisms it bear besides the plectrum a crooked arm 9, the free end ofwhich bears against the broad back end of the key-lever e.

In Fig. 6 the strings may be arranged in such a manner that the stringsof different sets and of different keys or harmonies upon which singleplectrum may strike are side by side that is, between the strings of onekey or barmony are arranged the strings of another key or harmony. Thefirst group of strings forms the C-major scale, while the other groupforms the F-major scale, so that every alternate pair of strings are ofdifferent harmony.

In order to prevent the shifting of the sledge so much as to comeinadvertently from one harmony into the other one, a lever r is arrangedWithin easy reach of the left-hand fingers which alternately catcheswith the pin 8, fastened to its end, into one of the recesses t, locatedin the wall of the sledge a, each of them being just long enough topermit the sledge to be shifted over the space occupied by the twostrings of a group.

It is evident that with the doubling of the melody-strings, hereinbeforedescribed, also a doubling of the basses and the corresponding triads isto take place. The number of strings acted upon by one picker may stillfurther be increased in an analogous way, thereby increasing also thevariety of harmonies.

I/Vhat I claim is- 1. The combination in a zither or the like of plectrashiftable laterally over the strings, a non-shiftable set of keys, andconnections between the plectra and the keys permitting each key tooperate a single and the same plectrum in every position of the plectra.

2. In a zither or the like, the combination with a bridge extendingacross and above the strings and fastened to the sounding-box of thezither, of a sliding frame laterally shiftable on said bridge, aseriesof plectra arranged on said sliding frame, means for actuating saidplectra and also arranged in said sliding frame, a keyboard fastened tothe stationary bridge and comprising a set .of non-shiftablc key-leversfor manipulating said plectra-actuating means, said key-levers havingtheir inner ends broadened so as to operate a single and the sameplectrum in every position of the sliding frame bearing the plectra,substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a zither or the like, the combination with a bridge extendingacross and above the strings and fastened to the sounding-box of thezither and a sliding frame at laterally shiftable on said bridge, of aseries of prismatic bars h turning on gudgeons in said sliding frame, aseries of plectra screwed to said prismatic bars lo, the one-armedlevers arranged parallel to the prismatic bars it in the said slidingframe, the block j turning loosely on the levers g and connected by thepin Ii with the prismatic bar it, a keyboard fastened to the stationarybridge and comprising a set of non-shiftable key-levers 6 having theirinner ends broadened and engaging the one-armed levers g by means oftheir broadened ends, substantially as described and for the purpose setforth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD GUMZ.

Witnesses HENRY I'IASPER, WVOLDEMAR I'IAUPT.

